Sitting by the Swan River, Harley Bennell has an air of calmness as he talks about football, family and his satisfaction with moving home to WA to join Fremantle.
 
It is in stark contrast to his football, which, at its best, is electrifying, creative and game changing.
 
“I want my football to do the talking,” he said.
 
“It’s good to be back here with the family and I’m really excited to play for Fremantle.
 
“I’m really looking forward to meeting the playing group and getting ready for a big pre-season.”
 
The 23-year-old requested a move home to WA and a trade was completed between Fremantle and the Gold Coast in October.

Bennell comes home
 
He had spent five years at the Queensland club, playing 81 games and kicking 92 goals.
 
However, several well-documented off-field issues interrupted his time there.
 
Bennell said he had moved on from those and his focus was on training and earning the respect of his new club and its supporters.
 
“It goes with anyone heading into a fresh start at a new football club,” he said.
 
“I just really want to earn their respect by the way I train and go about my stuff.
 
“I’m really looking forward to 2016, hopefully we can play finals.”
 
The biggest drawcard in a move home was his close-knit family.
 
Bennell is one of nine children.
 
“It means everything to be home,” he said.
 
“It’s good to have that family support.
 
“On days off I can go down there (Mandurah) and go out for lunch with my family.”
 
Bennell is particularly close to his mother Kayleen Bennell.
 
“Mum is a single mother of nine,” he said.
 
“She’s like the queen and is a very strong woman.
 
“She’s been to about seven home games at the Gold Coast but hopefully next season she can come to all the home games.”
 
Footy was always a large part of family life growing up in the footy-mad Peel region.
 
Bennell played with Peel Thunder before he was drafted to the Gold Coast at pick 2 in 2010, but said he learned his craft playing with his brothers in the backyard.
 
“Growing up, there was always footy,” Bennell said.
 
“My brothers and I always played football, two-on-two out the back.”
 
Bennell met with the leadership group and some of the club’s other Indigenous players in recent weeks.

Lachie happy Harley is in purple
 
“I met with the leadership group and (we) went over a few things,” he said.
 
“I caught up with Son Son (Michael Walters) and Johnno  (Michael Johnson) too.”